Here’s the reality of one woman, as documented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). In Malawi, Mary James walked hours to reach the closest health centre while she was in labour.

Exhausted, she made it to the facility and gave birth, only to lose her child later that day. She picked a name for him, but he never opened his eyes. He never cried. She kept the name to herself. Sadly, Mary’s nameless son was not the only one.

That same day, approximately 2,600 babies died on their first day of life.

According to Unicef, each year, 2.6 million newborns die, tragically before their lives even really get started. Over 80 per cent die from preventable causes.

We know simple solutions exist, like access to midwives and functional health facilities, along with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, clean water, basic drugs and good nutrition.

Yet we are not doing our part. We are not rising to the challenge to help the women of the world.

Mary’s baby died because there weren’t enough doctors or nurses to save him. This is a chronic problem plaguing the most impoverished countries. But what if we lived in a world where there were enough birth attendants?

Where there was no shortage of access to health facilities nearby? Where lifesaving drugs and clean water were easily available to all? Where midwives could help and advise mothers after birth?

What if we lived in a world where every mother and newborn could receive affordable health care and thrive in life?

That world is possible. And we must dare to dream it for every black woman, for every woman in Malawi, and for every mother out there.

Simple solutions

Across the globe, organisations like Unicef are committed to delivering simple solutions on behalf of every mother and newborn.

These solutions include recruiting and training more doctors and midwives, guaranteeing clean and functional health facilities, making the top 10 life-saving drugs and equipment available, and most importantly, empowering adolescent girls to demand quality care.

Every mother, everywhere, regardless of race or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. And you can help make this a reality.